Hanoi Opera House tells heritage stories with technology

This is a special art project about Hanoi Opera House - an architectural work with strong historical imprint and cultural symbol of the Capital.

People's Artist Xuan Bac, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, spoke at the press conference introducing the art project to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the Opera House.

Telling history with technology

The Hanoi Opera House was started in 1901 and completed in 1911. Up to now, it is still a venue for solemn art performances, suitable for high-class theatrical and musical programs, meeting international performance standards. After more than a century with many ups and downs of national history, the Hanoi Opera House still exists firmly, becoming a great cultural address and a beautiful architectural work of the more than thousand-year-old Hanoi Capital. In 2011, the Hanoi Opera House and August Revolution Square were recognized as National Historical and Architectural Monuments by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

To celebrate the 115th anniversary of the inauguration of the Opera House, an unprecedented special art program will be held here, recreating the history of the theater's formation in its own unique way. "115 years of the theater telling stories - Heritage speaks with light and technology" is an art project that has been invested in meticulously and carefully and prepared for many months. The project is organized at the right time when the theater is preparing to enter the restoration phase.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Opera House Chu Anh Hung shared: “For the first time in history, Hanoi Opera House temporarily closed its performance doors to become its own stage. The entire space, from the lobby, stairs, auditorium to the dome, was “awakened” by light, images and sounds, recreating memories of more than a century of architectural heritage. The program is not only an artistic event but also a desire to turn the Opera House from a heritage to admire into a vibrant space to experience.”

According to the Organizing Committee, the program will use advanced performance technologies such as 3D mapping, holograms, augmented reality (AR) and multi-layer storytelling, to give the public the opportunity to immerse themselves in a unique art space never seen before here. “Viewers will immerse themselves in the flow of the story, interact with space and light, and feel history in the language of the digital age. This is an important step forward in applying technology to preserve and promote heritage, contributing to affirming the position of Hanoi - a Creative City recognized by UNESCO” - Mr. Chu Anh Hung said.

The project “115 years of Storytelling Theatre - Heritage speaks with light and technology” will be implemented from November 22 to December 31. In the heart of Hanoi, the heritage that has existed for more than a century will shine and tell its story with light. When the public immerses themselves in this shimmering, colorful art space, they will be able to explore the history and artistic creativity of the Capital over the past 100 years.

Journey of emotions and passion

According to the Organizing Committee, the program consists of 4 chapters, corresponding to the 115-year journey of the Hanoi Opera House. With “Opening Night 1911”, the audience uses AR tickets to “step through the door of time”, returning to the moment of the inauguration of the Opera House more than a century ago.

Coming to “Hanoi in the heart of the Opera House”, the public can witness the entire architecture transformed into a “time window” through 360° mapping technology, opening up layers of memories about Hanoi - from the colonial period, the war years to the moment of the August Revolution in 1945.

In the chapter “115 years of Hanoi stage”, operas, dramas, reformed operas, songs and dances... are recreated with lighting technology, helping the audience relive the old stage space. This is also the gratitude that the Opera House's Board of Directors wants to send to generations of artists who have been associated with the Theater. Finally, “The Heart of Art” closes with a symphony of light and architecture, when 3D mapping technology transforms the Theater through styles - from classical to futuristic - as a symbol of Hanoi's unceasing creative spirit.

This project features creative director Le Ngoc Quy - who has participated in the Moscow Light Festival (Russia), projects at the Louvre Museum (France)... Taking on the design and operation of the show is Hexogon Vietnam - a unit that has carried out large-scale shows in Singapore, Japan, Europe and participated in lighting engineering for the 28th SEA Games, the 60th Singapore National Day, and many projects in Vietnam, most recently the mapping program at Turtle Tower - Hoan Kiem Lake... Director of Hexogon Vietnam Ngo Xuan Minh shared: "Making art in the Opera House is not only a technical task, but also an emotional journey. Light, sound, and technology are just means to awaken the original beauty, helping the heritage tell its own story. We have a very short preparation time and great pressure, but it is a pride to touch a national cultural symbol".

From the perspective of performance management, People's Artist Xuan Bac, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, commented: "The Hanoi Opera House is not only a simple performance venue but also a cultural work, a historical witness - a place where the quintessence of architecture and art converge. I believe that the project "115 years of Storytelling Theatre - Heritage speaks with light and technology" will be attractive and attract a large audience."

With a carefully executed and quality program, the 115th anniversary project of the Hanoi Opera House is expected to bring an artistic and technological feast, bringing viewers back to their memories of the Capital.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nha-hat-lon-ha-noi-ke-chuyen-di-san-bang-cong-nghe-722855.html